Armed conflicts are among the most destructive human activities, causing significant harm not only to human life but also to the environment. One of the most overlooked consequences of war is its impact on air quality, which can extend far beyond the battlefield. Conflicts introduce pollutants into the atmosphere through a variety of mechanisms, degrading regional air quality and contributing to transboundary pollution that affects neighboring countries. Understanding these factors and examining recent examples provides insight into the broader environmental costs of warfare.
What Reduces Air Quality During War?
Wars and conflicts release pollutants into the atmosphere through multiple pathways. The primary contributors include the combustion of fossil fuels, the destruction of industrial infrastructure, wildfires caused by bombings, and the use of specific weapons. Each factor significantly reduces air quality, with effects that are often severe and long-lasting.
- Burning Fossil Fuels: Military operations rely heavily on vehicles, aircraft, and ships that burn massive quantities of diesel, jet fuel, and other fossil fuels. This releases large amounts of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM). For example, the U.S. military alone emits substantial amounts of CO2 annually, making it one of the largest institutional contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally.
- Bombing and Infrastructure Damage: When critical infrastructure, such as factories, power plants, and chemical storage facilities, is targeted, hazardous substances are released into the air. The destruction of industrial areas can emit toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and fine particulate matter, creating dangerous air pollution. During the Syrian Civil War, attacks on oil refineries resulted in massive air quality deterioration as large plumes of smoke covered the surrounding regions.
- Wildfires and Explosions: Explosive devices can ignite large-scale wildfires, especially in forested or agricultural regions. Wildfires produce immense amounts of PM2.5, black carbon, and other pollutants that degrade air quality and can travel across borders. In Ukraine, shelling and missile strikes have ignited fires in forests and industrial areas, causing widespread air pollution that has impacted neighboring countries like Poland and Moldova.
- Chemical and Biological Agents: The use of chemical weapons, though rare, introduces hazardous pollutants directly into the air. Substances like chlorine gas, used in conflicts in the Middle East, pose an immediate danger to human health while dispersing harmful chemicals into the environment.
- Open Waste Burning: In conflict zones, waste disposal systems often collapse, leading to open burning of municipal, medical, and hazardous waste. This practice releases toxic emissions, including dioxins, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), further deteriorating air quality. This has been a persistent issue in areas of Yemen and Somalia, where prolonged conflicts have damaged waste management infrastructure.
Recent Case-Studies
War’s impact on air quality is evident in conflicts across the globe. Recent examples show the devastating environmental consequences of modern warfare.
- Russia-Ukraine Conflict (2022-Present): The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused significant environmental damage, particularly concerning air quality. Shelling of chemical plants, oil depots, and industrial infrastructure has released toxic fumes and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Reports from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) indicate that smoke from fires ignited by military strikes has spread across Eastern Europe, contributing to regional transboundary air pollution.
- Syrian Civil War: The prolonged conflict in Syria has severely impacted air quality, particularly in regions where oil refineries and fuel depots have been targeted. According to Reuters, the destruction of refineries not only caused economic hardship but also generated massive plumes of smoke filled with particulate matter and carcinogenic compounds. The combustion of crude oil in makeshift refineries further exacerbated air pollution, impacting human health for miles around.
- Yemen Conflict: In Yemen, war has led to the collapse of waste management systems, resulting in widespread open burning of waste. This practice emits hazardous pollutants, which combine with emissions from fuel burning in military operations. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this combination has caused a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses and other pollution-related health issues in the region.
- Gaza Conflict: The repeated bombing campaigns in Gaza have destroyed critical infrastructure, including factories and power plants. In addition to the immediate human toll, these strikes have released large amounts of particulate matter and toxic gases into the atmosphere. Dust and smoke from these strikes travel beyond Gaza’s borders, affecting air quality in neighboring regions like Israel and parts of Egypt.
Transboundary Effects of War-Related Air Pollution
The air quality effects of war are not confined to conflict zones. Airborne pollutants generated by military activities, wildfires, and industrial damage can travel across national borders, impacting neighboring countries. For instance, PM2.5 and black carbon emitted from fires or explosions can remain in the atmosphere for extended periods, transported by prevailing winds to regions hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away.
In the case of the Russia-Ukraine war, pollutants from burning industrial facilities in Ukraine were detected in neighboring Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe. Similarly, the environmental damage caused by bombing oil refineries in Syria has had measurable impacts on air quality in Turkey and Iraq.
Long-Term Health and Environmental Consequences
The long-term consequences of war-induced air pollution are profound. Exposure to fine particulate matter, black carbon, and toxic chemicals increases the risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to these pollutants. Moreover, persistent air pollution exacerbates climate change by releasing greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane, which are often emitted during large-scale burning.
In addition to human health impacts, degraded air quality harms ecosystems. Pollutants settle on soil and water bodies, damaging agriculture and contaminating freshwater sources. Over time, these effects hinder recovery efforts in post-conflict regions and place additional strain on already fragile economies.
The impact of war on air quality is a critical but often overlooked consequence of armed conflicts. Combustion of fossil fuels, destruction of infrastructure, wildfires, and the use of chemical agents contribute to severe air pollution, affecting both regional and transboundary air quality. Recent conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza provide clear examples of how war worsens environmental and public health challenges. Addressing these impacts requires international cooperation to monitor air quality, support post-conflict recovery, and prioritize environmental considerations in conflict resolution efforts.
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References
- https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/costs/environmental
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-has-fall-assad-impacted-syrias-energy-sector-2024-12-09/
- https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/toxic-legacy-ukraine-war
- https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/war-and-garbage-gaza-public-health-and-environmental-crisis-widespread-solid-waste-pollution
- https://www.hrw.org/
